The girls have been part of our church all their lives. They have attended Sunday school, sung in the choir and sat next to us in worship. Church is a big part of our lives. Lizzie and Gracie walk through the doors and know love and hope. They get at least three hugs from various people and that's just on the way to Sunday School. With me working at the church, we spend a lot of time there. With all that time there, Wes and I always wonder how much really sinks in and what it means to the girls.
Recently, we've had conversations about different elements of faith. We've talked about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It may not make sense to them fully, but even I still question and learn. A few weeks before that, we talked about why we are Christians and why some of their school friends are Muslim.
The word "grace" comes up often in church; which can be confusing if your name is Grace. One Sunday, Gracie said, "Why does Pastor Tom keep saying my name?". We've talked about what grace means for us and Jesus role in saving us.
I love the Methodist view on grace. It's a bit confusing but all the girls need to know is they are saved by grace with a little "g" and loved.
Tonight, we talked about drinking and eating bread in church; otherwise known as Communion. Communion is a special time for our family. We take it together and listen to the liturgy the first Sunday of each month. Through our discussion, we talked about the importance of communion and the promises that it represents. Gracie starts repeating some of the liturgy and what the elements of bread and wine (or grape juice in our church and most Methodist churches) represent.
Taking the girls to church and sharing our faith is something that I hope stays with them all their lives. We know that they will question and try different traditions, but my hope is they stay United Methodists. My hope is that the girls look to Wes and I as role models in the same way that I look at my parents as role models. My parents modeled the Christian faith the best for me.
One of my favorite quotes by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, “Do all the good you can. By all the means you
can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the
times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” I hope the girls keep at least this with them all their lives. Because, isn't this what Jesus really calls us to do?
